Process of manufacturing starch.



No. 717,700.. -PATENTED JAN. 6, 1903.

A. P. MURDOGH. PROCESS F MANUFACTURING STARCH.

v APPLIGATION FILED A1114, 1902. No MQDBL.

W/ WIM- 5555 f @MQW -ymzm UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' AUGUSTUS l?. MURDOCH,

lor osvvnco, NEW Yoan.

Pecci-:iss F MANU FAcTumNe s'rAEci-i.

srnculcn'roiv forming part ornetrs Patent-.iva 717,700, dated Jennery e, 1903. I Application filed April 14, 1902. Serial No. 102,777. (life specimens To allwhom' t may concern:

Beit known that {,Aucns'rus P. Muanocn, of Oswego, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Manufacturing Starch, of which the following,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. l i

My invention relates to an improved process of manufacturing starch.

One of the objects of this process is to renderl the production of starchcontinuousand substantially automatic from the first introduction of the raw material to the final discharge of the finished starch product and at the same time to concentrate and separate the feed or coarser product from the starch liquor-Without the employment of any screens, v

sieves,or other bolting devices.

Another object is to obviate the use of runs or tables and other devices which are expensive, occupy a great deal of floor-space, and require the continuous attendance of vseveral attendants night and day to keep the liquor properly agitated 'in o rder that the light non-farinaceous substance may be kept at 4the surface to iiow on with the glutenwater and to shovel the precipitate starch into suitable conveyors.

' Another object is to first prepare the starch liquor forthe mixing-tanks, where the dilute chemical is introduced, and then 'continue the flow of the starch liquorrivith the dilute chemical added, through a series of inverted conical vats until it finally issues from the last vatin the form of commercial starch, ready to be boxed.

A further object 1s to reduce the coarser matter as it passes throughthe first conical vat` and kto press or dry the4 same to be used as fodder or for other purposes.

A still further object is to'retu rn the starch liquor from the iirst series of vats to suitable' Washing-tanks receiving the discharge from said first series of vats, to be again conducted through one or more additional series of inverted conical vats before conducting the starch liquor to the chemical-tanks.

To this end the invention consists in the various steps of the process, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings I have shown a system of apparatus identical with that set'forth in my pending application, Serial No. 86,972, filed` December 23, 1901, and consisting of a mill 1, an agitator-tank 2, a series of inverted conical vats 3, 4., and 5, asecondmill 6 for receiving the coarser matter, as the feed from the vat 3, and additional agitator-tanks 7 'and 8, the tank 7 receiving uthe discharge from the .mill 6 and the tank 8 receiving the discharge 'from the apexes of the vats 4 and 5..

Connected to the tank 7 is a second series of inverted conical vats '9, 10, and 11, the vat 9 .receiving the material directly from the tank 7 and is connected to discharge the starch liquor'through the vat 10 to the vat 11. At the apex of the vat 9 are presser-rollers 12, which receive the coarser product or feed from the vat 9 for the purpose of pressing the moisture therefrom andpreparing the same f or fodder or other uses. The'vats 10 and 11 discharge their precipitate into the conduit 13, from 'which-it is drawn by a suitable pump 14 and forced through a conduit 15 into the vat 8.

Connected to the tank 8 is a third series of inverted conical vets-,16, 17, and 18, which discharge the starch liquor successively from one to the other from the vat 16.

In order to insure the thorough removal of the non-farinaceous material, I preferably return the material discharged from the apex of the vat 16, by means of a conduit 19- and pump 20, to the vat 7, from which it is 'again fed through the vats 9,10, and 11, thence'into the tank 8 and again intov the vate 16, 17,.and 18, the starch liquor being by this time nearly free from nonfarinaceous substance, and the starch is held in suspension in the Water and iiows from the vat 16 into the vats 17 and 18, from which it is dischargedjhrough a suitable conduit 20 in to mixing-tanks 21, 22, and 23. Here the starchv liquor is treated with suitable chemicals to purify the same and is then conducted to a tank 24g by means of a Apump 25 and conduits 26.

Connected' to the vat 24: is a fourth series of inverted conical vats 27, 28, and 29, which roc are connected to run the liquor successively from one io the other, the vat 27 being connected directly to the tank 24. The apex of the vat 27 is arranged todischarge into a. tank 30, which discharges into a fifth seriesof inverted conical vats 31, 32', and 33, while the vats 28 and 29 are arranged to discharge into the tank 34, from which the liquor is discharged into a sixth series of inverted conical vats 35, 36, and 37. 'lhevats 31, 32'and 33 also discharge successlvely from one to the other, and in the treatment of some. classes of starch-containing matter the starch may be boxed directly from the vat 31. y The starch from the apexes of the vats 32 and 33 is also preferably conducted by means of a pump 39 and conduit 40 `to the tank 34,it being again 37 finally issues at the apexes of the vats 36 and 37 in the form of starch, which may be boxed directly from either of said vats or con`- veyedto any desired locality by condui'ts'43 for the purposeof boxing the same. l I have thus briey described the apparatu for carrying out my process. This process consists, essentially, in irst macerating or grinding the raw material inltheniill 1, then conducting the same to the agitator-tank 2,

where it is mixed with a suitable quantityof water and agitated and then conveyed to the base of the vat 3, in which vat the liquid mash is expanded upwardly, thereby causing a partial separation of the, mash into three constituent elements-viz., the coarser'product orfeed, the starch liquor, and, third, theV gluten-water and oil or matter of lightest specic gravity. The coarser material or feed being of the heaviest specific gravity is precipitated into the apex of the vat 3, while the starch liquor being of less specific gravity forms an intermediate strata of liquor, and the gluten-water or oil being of still less specie gravity rises to the surface. The coarser product or feed at the base of the Vat 3 is then drawn olf into the second mill 6, where it is again ground or macerated to a finer oo ndition than when issuing from the mill l and is discharged into the vat 7. Additional water is then added for further washing the'feed, so as to separate the farina from the non-farinaceous substance, and then the material is agitated and flows into the .vat 9. The coarser or non-farinaceous material is precipitated through the apex of the vat 9 and is then pressed o'r dried by the rollers^12 to be used as fodder or as a fertilizer.

I have thus far described the various steps of separating the feed from the starch liquor,

"and I will now proceed to describe the process of treatment of the starch liquor, which, as previously stated, rises to an intermediate levelin the vat 3 andiiowstherefrom through a conduit 44 to the base of-the vat 4, the starch liquor rising to an intermediate level in said vatand is conducted therefrom through a conduit 45 to the base of the vat 5, which is preferably of greater capacity than the vats 3 or 4 in order that the flow of liquor therethrough may be slower and therefore afford better opportunity for the starch to precipitate orl separate from the water, which water overvflows from the top of the vat 5 through aconduit 46 and is allowed to go to waste, as it is after this treatment substantially free from starch. In order to recover any starch which 'may be held in suspension by the gluten-water in the upper level in the vat 3, Ipreferably conduct the same through a conduit 47 to the base of the vat 5, in which the starch is found to be entirely separated from the water and precipitated through the apex into the tank 8, the vat '4 also discharging its coarser product through its apex into said vat 8. Here additional water is introduced into th'e starch liquor in the vat 8 and is suitably agitated and then flows into the base of the vat 16 through a ,conduit 48,where it is again expanded, and the .heavier matter, which is now mostly starch and may contain some non-'farinaceous'or glutinous substance, is precipitated through the apex of the vat 16 and into the conduit 19 and returned to the vat 7 The operation of removing the non-farinaceous substance is then IOO repeated through the vat 9, the heavier matter passing to therollers 12, and the starch liquor iows from the intermediate level of the vat 9 to the vat 10 through a conduit 49 and is expanded upwardly therein. In the same manner the starch liquor 'is conveyed from the intermediate portionof the vat 10 to the vat 1l, the heavier matter being precipitated through the apexes of both the vats 10 and 11 into the conduit 13 and is then returned to the tank 8 for the purpose ofk again treating the material by running the same through lthe vats 16, 17, and 18. The gluten water or liquor of lightest specific gravity overflows from the -Vat 9 through a conduit 50 and into the base of the vat 11 in the same manner and for the same purpose that the gluten-Water is drawn from the upper level of the vat 3 t0 the base ofthe vat 5.

The operation of passing the liquor through each series of the vatsbeing substantial] y the same, it will be unnecessary to describe in `detail the exact course of the liquor through each of the remaining series, it being suflicient to state that the liquor after being agitated in the tank 8 fiows through the vats 16,

17, aud-18 continuously, and the heavier matter is discharged from the vats 17 and 18 into the mixing-tanks 21, 22, and 23. The liquor is then chemically treated in the vats to re- IIO the tank 30, Where it is agitated and additional Water added, and then discharged into the 'fifth series of vats- 3l, 32, and 33, the remaining vats 2S and 29 discharging through their apexes into the tank 3ft, Where additional water is introduced and the liquor agi-v tated and conveyed to the sixth series of vats 35, :'36, and 37, the'heavier material or precipitated starch in the vat 35 being conveyed to the tank 30, and from this tank 30 it is run through the vats 3l, 32,'and 33 and then conveyed to the tank 3, the liquor being then conveyed to the vats 35, 3G, and 37 and the starchfdrawn off from the apexes .of thevats 36 and 37 in condition to box.

The several steps in the process' Will now' be readily understood upon reference to the foregoing description, and it. will be noted that a less number of series of vats may bel employed and that a less number for each series may also be used in the preparation of starch from some kindsof raw material. Therefore I do notlirnit myself to the precise number of vats for each series nor-to the prel oise number of series of vats.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl. The process of producing starch consisting in introducing a liquid mash intoan in.-

verted conical vat, drawing off the precipitate through the apex of thevat, conducting the liquid from the intermediate level of the vat into the base of a sccondinverted conical vat, and simultaneously drawing off the liquid from the upper level of the second vat and collecting the discharge from its apex.

2. rlhe process of producing starch consisting in introducing a-liquid mash into au inverted conical vat, drawing off the precipitate through the apex of the vat, conducting the liquid from the intermediate level of the vat into the base of a second inverted conical vat, and simultaneously drawing oft the liquid from the upper levels of both of said vats into the base of a third inverted conical vat, and collecting the residue of the lir'st vat separately from that oi' the other two vats.

3. The process of producing starch 'consisting of flowing portions of the starch containing matter successivelyrthrough aV series otVVV inverted conical vats, collecting and macerating the discharge of the precipitate of the iirst vat of the series and collecting together the discharge of the precipitate of the other vats of the series.

'4. The process of producing starch consist- 'ing of flowing portions of the starch containing matter successively through a series of .inverted conical vats, collecting and maceratinverted conical vats, collecting and macerating the discharge of the'precipitate of the first vat of the series, Washing and agitating the inacerated material and ilowing portions of the same successively through'a second series of inverted conical vats, pressing the precipitate from the first vat of the second series, and collecting together the precipitate vfrom the remaining vats of both series.

5. The process of producing starch consisting of iiowing portions of the starch containing matter successively through a series of inverted conical vats, collecting and macerating thedischarge of the precipitate of the lirst vat of the series and collecting together the discharge ot the precipitate of the other vats of the series and running portions of the same through a second series of inverted Y conical'vats, and then collecting the precipitate from the lirst vat of the second series together with the macerated matter of the irst vat of the irst series. f

6. The process of producing starch consisting 4of iiowing portions of the starch containing matter successively through a series of ing the discharge ot' the precipitateof the tiret-vat of the series and collecting together the discharge of the precipitate of the other vats ofgthe series and running portions of the same throughaseoond series of inverted conical vats,.and then collecting the precipitate from the first vat of the second series together with thev macerated matter of the rstyat of the first series and then passing portions Vof the second collection through a third series of inverted conical vats.

7. The process of producing starch consisting of macerating and liquefying the ravvY starch-containing materialand iiowing the same successively through aseries of inverted conical vats,.collecting, Washing and agitat-V ing the precipitate from one of the vats in a single tank, then continuing the flow ot the agitated matter through a second series of inverted conical vats, and then collecting the starch liquor and chemically treating the same, the flow of the material from the first step to the last being continuous.

8. The process of producing starch consisting of macerating and li-quefying the starchcontaining material then causing the saine to flow continuously and successively through a series of inverted conical vats, collecting and macerating the precipitate from the rst vat of the series, simultaneously collecting Atheprecipitate from the remaining vats, and iiowing the same continuously to a mixingtank and there chemically treating and purifying the same, and then Washing the latter product and iiowing the same through an additional series of inverted conical vats.

9. The herein-described process of producing commercial starch automatically and coni tinuousl-y consisting of macerating and liqne- ,A

YOU

fying the starch-containing material and fiowlecting and boxing the starch directly from ing portions of the same continuously and the last Vat of thelast series. lo

.successively through a plurality of series of In witness whereof I have hereunto set my inverted conical Vets, washing and mixing` hand this 7th day of April, 1902.

the continuously-flowing'product duringxr its I AUGUSTUS P. MURDOCH. transit from one series to the other, collectl Witnesses: ing and remacerating the precipitate from l L. W. BAKER,

the first Vat of the first series and finally col- E. IiI. FOLEY. 

